Nevada bill ups penalties for scrap metal thefts

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Las year the city of Reno lost more than $100,000 from scrap metal thieves and now cities across Nevada are telling lawmakers, 'enough is enough.'

Members of the Assembly Judiciary committee heard SB37 Wednesday.

Current law classifies scrap metal theft based on the monetary value of the stolen material with fines, possible prison time and the option of community service. This bill mandates 100 hours of community service for first offenses, 200 hours for second offenses and 300 hours for third and subsequent violations.

Reno officials say the loss of metals often results in damage to the community, so the service hours go hand-in-hand with the crime.

So,basically,when we get a habitual scrap metal thief,we're just putting them on the payroll? Seriously though,with that kind of community service hours,it'd make the existing administrative nightmare of community service even worse. this sort of crime has kind of a strange dynamic to it,so I guess what they're proposing is probably the best over-all option there is right now.